Superintendent's Weekly Reflections
Hello Team FCPS!
Well, here we are; the last of March. As I have mentioned earlier, March certainly came in like a lion and is going out like (you guessed it ;>) a lamb. And so, here are my thoughts and reflections this evening...
Congratulations to Kirsten Salonga, science teacher at Justice High School, and John Mika, mathematics teacher at Hayfield Secondary School! Kirsten and John, along with three other Virginia teachers, are state finalists for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching ! The award is regarded as the nation’s top honor for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers. It recognizes educators who have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Winners will be announced after the state finalist applications are reviewed by a national committee — stay tuned! Go Team FCPS!!
On Monday, I held the second Community Conversation of the spring at Kings Park Elementary School. Thank you, Principal Dottie Lin, for hosting us! I was impressed that with such nice weather outside, we still had a good turnout of families. I appreciated the conversation and the topics that were thoughtfully raised — including the comprehensive boundary review, support for special education and twice exceptional students, and middle school after-school programs. I especially appreciated several articulate young women who shared their thoughts on FCPS’ grading and test retake policies. I so enjoy opportunities to talk to students directly about what they are experiencing and what they may find helpful as we consider how to best help them succeed. Centering student voice is an important part of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan . I encourage our students to continue attending Community Conversations and providing their input on important topics. Their experiences — and their voices! — matter.
On Tuesday morning, I visited Belvedere Elementary School. I was greeted by Principal Cecilia Vanderhye, her administrative team, and three fifth-grade student ambassadors. The focus of my visit was to see the pre-Kindergarten classrooms, and Belvedere has approximately 100 pre-K students.
In all I visited six different pre-K classrooms, led by teachers Anna Koch, Callista Doulis, Lauren Decker, Brittany Smith, Kate Coho, and Jecsi Huarcaya Rodas. Some of the activities the students were doing included morning meetings, where they were “networking;” sharing where did they play today?; breathing exercises; and singing a “Hello, Hello” song to get up and moving. Other activities included learning about community helpers and being safe; learning how to make pizza; and reading
Sheep in a Jeep
and
Stanley the Hamster
. To finish off my visit we went to the playground where the students got to get some exercise and have fun with their classmates. Making sure every student gets a strong start is
Goal 1 of the
2023-30 Strategic Plan
. Go Bulldogs!!
On Tuesday, I met with Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student Navya Tuteja about empowering neurodiverse students. Navya has started a nonprofit organization called
Empower InvisAbilities
, which is dedicated to raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and advocating for students with neurodiverse conditions like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and anxiety. Invisible disabilities significantly impact learning, and our goal is to ensure all students feel recognized, valued, and supported.
On Wednesday afternoon, I hosted a meeting of the 2e Superintendent’s Advisory Committee . 2e stands for twice-exceptional learners . In FCPS, 2e learners are: 1) eligible for subject-specific, part-time, or full-time Advanced Academic Program services, and 2) have either an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. The committee consists of families, teachers, school-based administrators, and central office staff. At the meeting, the committee reviewed data on the overall percentage of 2e students accessing dual programming, the types of services students are accessing by grade level, as well as by ethnicity and whether they are a multilingual learner, and the overall percentage of students identified for Advanced Academic Placement. Together, all things are possible!!
I also hosted a meeting of the Boundary Review Advisory Committee . Some of the key takeaways from the meeting are available on our website. You can also see materials that were shared with the committee . To recap, the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee includes parents, caregivers and/or community members from each of FCPS’ 24 high school pyramids, together with school-based and division administrators, teachers, operational staff, and other community representatives. This feedback is essential as we work together to ensure the process is transparent, incorporates community input, and prioritizes students in every decision. This work matters!!
At Thursday’s School Board meeting , I provided an update on the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity , which supports every student having access to high-quality academic programming and resources to support their success. I discussed academically intense course taking and access to activities. Completion of rigorous classes is important because it’s linked to on-time graduation, college enrollment and completion, and higher earnings. In addition, we know that 66% of jobs available today require post-secondary education and 80% percent of the jobs lost during the Great Recession were those requiring a high school diploma or less. We are working on several strategies to support rigorous course taking, such as:
Utilize course taking data to revise offerings, pathways, and requirements across the division.
- Focus academic advisement practices on strategic scheduling.
- Prepare all students for the rigor of advanced coursework.
- Increase the number and variety of advanced courses offered.
- Identify and resolve common barriers to accessing academically intense courses.
Access to activities is linked to well-being (self-esteem, belonging, mental health), reduced risky behaviors, college enrollment, and college competitiveness. Our strategies for improving access to activities include:
- Offer a variety of engaging after school activities.
- Understand and address barriers to participation.
- Leverage the Goal Innovation Team.
In the Academic Matters section of the School Board meeting, the topic was elementary literacy , specifically, getting all students to read on grade level by third grade, which is part of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence . Some of the actions being taken to achieve this goal are:
- Deliver evidence-based literacy curriculum across the division (Benchmark Advance).
- Assess and monitor student progress using screeners.
- Provide intensive intervention documented reading plans.
As you can see in the slide above, 14.2% more third grade students have gained the foundational skills they need to achieve grade level success since last fall and 8.4% percent are no longer below grade level. Our hard work is paying off! As part of my presentation, I shared this video that shows how a dedicated team of educators is empowering multilingual learners and students with disabilities through a rigorous curriculum, targeted interventions, and inclusive teaching practices. Go Team FCPS!!
And in the Superintendent Matters section of the School Board meeting, I discussed my school and activities visits mentioned above and in previous issues of Weekly Reflections . I also shared that Alyce Pope, family services specialist at Leis Center, was named a National Education Association (NEA) Education Support Professional of the Year Award finalist , as well as Kirsten and John’s recognition as state finalists for the Presidential Award in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Congratulations Alyce, Kirsten, and John!!
On Friday morning, I met with the delegates of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council at Woodson High School. The group consists of students from every high school in FCPS, and they have been working since the fall to present their research and findings on topics related to each goal in the Strategic Plan. After their presentations, each group presented their recommendations on how FCPS can make improvements for each goal. I continue to be inspired by our students as they lead. More to come as I share this work with the division.
Friday midday, we were treated to a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Hayfield Middle School Advanced Theatre in the cafe at Gatehouse Administration Center. John Kownacki, theater arts teacher, shared the following, “Hayfield Middle School’s Advanced Theatre Arts Appreciation class is hard at work preparing an abridged version of William Shakespeare's magical comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream . This fast-paced production brings to life a world of fairies, love, and mistaken identities — all in 15 minutes! Join us for a fun, whimsical performance as our talented young actors showcase their creativity and hard work. Whether you’re a Shakespeare enthusiast or new to his works, this performance is sure to captivate and entertain.” Go Hawks!!
Friday evening, I attended the play Almost, Maine at Justice High School. This was the Cappies performance for the play. I really enjoyed the performance and am continually inspired by the work of our students. I continue to be intrigued by the work of our students and staff. Thank you also to the staff who support this important work. Go Wolves!!
Saturday morning, I participated in the ConnerStrong Foundation - You Are Not Alone 5K Fun Run in Belle Haven Park. The ConnerStrong Foundation works to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention and to change the discussion about mental health, especially in our teens and young adults. The foundation also provides outreach and comfort to the families and communities affected by mental health and suicide. According to South County High School Assistant Principal Samantha Tolan, Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to create healthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, violence, bullying, and substance misuse. The Peer Leaders that are trained in the program serve as agents of change to break down codes of secrecy and connect students to trusted adults.
Later Saturday morning, I attended the Track and Field meet at Woodson High School. It was exciting to watch the student athletes participating as so many events were available. I particularly enjoyed the relays as they simulate life in so many ways. We always receive the hand off from prior generations as we leap forward with our own strength, creativity, and excitement. I enjoyed the pole vault competition in particular. This is such an exciting time for our young people, this work matters.
Early Saturday afternoon, I attended the Lacrosse Tournament at Robinson Secondary School. It remains one of my greatest pleasures to cheer on our student athletes as they compete in disciplined events and team for the future. In looking at the picture below, the Woodson team continues to be strong. The young women student athletes continue to inspire our future … this work matters … Go Cavaliers!!
As a community, we have come to expect excellence in Fairfax County Public Schools, including programs like All-County Chorus, and a wide variety of extracurricular and co-curricular activities that offer opportunities for each and every one of our students. Today, that excellence is at a crossroads.
For decades, the Commonwealth has underfunded public schools - to the tune of $568.7 million annually for FCPS or the equivalent of $3,100 per pupil. In Virginia, state aid to public education was listed as the second largest program potentially affected by reductions in federal funding. The County Board of Supervisors will finalize the budget on May 6 — and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million. FCPS cannot continue to sustain excellence with ongoing underfunding and budget cuts. We are asking our community if we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS? Go to FCPS.edu/crossroads to learn more, and to get information on how you can share your thoughts with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before the budget is finalized.
As we continue to explore changes from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) 2024 Accountability System , one shift will affect high schools more than other levels. When measuring a school’s academic outcomes on state assessments, the new School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) Mastery component is using new criteria for which test results are reviewed.
In the old system, a school’s academic accountability was based on students’ performance on the state tests they took during the current school year. However, in the new system, test results are reported for a school’s senior cohort, regardless of which year the student took the test or which high school they were attending when they tested . Because most high school students complete their math and biology Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in grade 9 or 10 and complete their high school reading SOL in grade 11, this change means test outcomes for most students won’t show up in their schools’ accountability calculations for up to three years after testing. Additionally, test results are part of accountability reporting for whatever high school a student is attending at the end of their fourth year of high school, even if they took the test at another high school or in a different division.
Also in the old system, a school’s academic accountability was based on students’ scores from all their SOLs in addition to their state-approved substitute tests for English, math, and science. In the new system’s senior cohort model, only one test is reported for each student in reading, math, and science, even if they had more testing. The cohort model selects a specific SOL or Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) test for each student.
- The biology SOL is the only science test included for accountability calculations, although earth science and chemistry SOLs as well as AP and IB exams can still verify credit for graduation.
- The reading SOL is now the only English test used for accountability, although the writing SOL and substitute tests like WorkKeys, AP, and IB exams can still verify credit for graduation.
- For math, Algebra 1 or the first SOL a student takes in grades 9-12 is the test reported for accountability. An approved AP, IB, ACT, or SAT exam can be used for accountability if the student completed all math SOLs before leaving middle school. Again, other SOLs and substitute tests can still verify credit for graduation, as needed.
Like many of the other provisions of the new state accountability system, these changes do not directly impact the student assessment experience or graduation requirements. However, as we anticipate the state’s reporting about high school performance this fall, it will be important for us to remember how different these school academic calculations will be from what has been reported in the past. Our 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 3 – Academic Growth and Excellence communicates our aim for every student to succeed in their courses every year while also supporting them to readiness for high school graduation and beyond, as represented in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 5 – Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation. While our focus first and foremost is on attaining outcomes for our individual students, we realize it is important for staff, students, and families in each of our school communities to also see our schools’ successes recognized. With this in mind, we will relentlessly pursue clear communications to our immediate and broader communities while advocating to Richmond for an accountability and reporting system that fairly depicts our schools’ performance.
And so, the end of March has come and we approach the start of a new and glorious month. I wish each of you a joyful spring week ahead and a thought to contemplate as we exuberantly celebrate the changing of the months; “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
Take good care,
Michelle Reid, Ed.D. Superintendent
